Shelf bracket



Aug- 2, 1949- R. s. SANFORD y 2,477,771

SHELF BRACKETy Filed April 12, 1946 2 SheebSfSheet 1 l Aug. 2, 1949. R. s. SANFORD 2,477,771

SHELF BRACKET Filed April 12, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 2, *1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 2,477,771 i Y l ff? 'I l SHELF BRACKET v I Royy S. Sanford, Woodbury, Conn., assignor to The Autoyre Company, Incorporated, Oakville, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut l Application April 12, 1946, Serial No. 661,564

This invention relates to shelf brackets, more particularly to brackets adapted to be secured to a wall .or similar surface for supporting a shelf in removable relation to the brackets, and the invention has for an object the provision of inexpensive, rugged and attractive shelf brackets of this character.

Shelf brackets heretofore proposed have usually been provided either with means permitting permanent attachment of the shelf to the brackets by screws .or the like, or with shelf-engaging hook portions at the front ends of the brackets for engaging the front edge of the shelf to prevent forward displacement thereof and to hold the shelf securely against the wall or similar support on which the bracket is mounted.

The use of front end hooks of this character limits the use of the brackets to shelves having a width equal to the length of the shelf-supporting arm of the bracket, and accordingly requires the production of various sizes of brackets to accommodate shelves of different width. In recognition of this disadvantage of shelf-supporting brackets having front end fhooks, it has heretofore been proposed to form the hook on a separate slide or adjustable member carried by theV shelf-supporting arm of the bracket adapted to lbe adjusted forwardly or rearwardly in accordcomms. (o1. 248-247) 2 vention, reference should now be had to the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a shelf bracket embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the bracket shown in Fig. 1 and illustrating a portion pf a shelf carried by thebracket;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the bracket shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the plastic insert member employed in the bracket of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 with the insert member omitted;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 6--6 of Fig.v 5 with vthe insert member in place; L Y

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary elevational sectional view taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 5 with the insert member in place;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary rear view of the upper end of the shelf bracket shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a pair of shelf brackets supporting a shelf;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view showing the wall'v end of a shelf bracket forming another embod'iment of this invention;

retaining the shelf against-accidental displace- Y ment from the brackets while Apermitting ready removal of the shelf for cleaning.

In carrying outthe invention in one form I provide a shelf bracket comprising a wall-engaging arm from which projects a forwardly eX- tending shelf-supporting arm, and resilient clamping means are provided disposed adjacent the rear end of the shelf-supporting arm for firmly and frictionally clamping the rear edge portion of the shelf to retain the shelf in position on the bracket and prevent accidental displacement of the shelf. More particularly, the clamping means includes a plastic or resilient insert member including a forwardly sloping surface up which the shelf may ride when inserted into the clamping means so as to reduce the -possibility of breakage when glass shelves are em- Fig.`11is a fragmentary side elevational view .of the portion of the shelf bracket shown in Fig. 10;

Fig.` V12 is a fragmentary top plan view of ythe wall end of still another form of shelf bracket embodying the present invention; and j Fig. 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the portion of the shelf bracket shown in Fig. 12.

Referring first to Figs. '1 to 9 of the drawing, the invention is shown as embodied in a shelf bracket I0 having a wall-engaging arm II the central portion of which is forwardly embossed to provide a strengthening panel I2 which is provided with suitable apertures I3 for receiving -lscrews or other suitable fastening means. by

which the wall-engaging arm may be secured to a wall or similar support. AThe wall-engaging arm I I is provided adjacent ythe Yupper end of the panel I2 with a slot I4, the purpose of which will be referred to hereinafter, and at its; upper end the wall-engaging arm II is provided with a forwardly-extending shelf-engaging resilient finger I5 which may be vof any 'desired shape but is preferably embossed, as shown, to provide aV gcenter panel I8 and a pair of downwardly ex- ,tending lugs I'I disposed on opposite sides of the its opposite end the shelf-supporting arm |8 isv provided with a tab or finger 22 (Figs. '1 and 8) which extends through thesloii 4 in the wallf engaging arm and is adapted to be spotvwelded or otherwise secured thereto as indicated at 23 in Figs. 7 and 8. r

shelf-supporting arm I8 and forced rearwardly until its rear edge portion is clamped between finger I5 and the shelf-supporting pad 26, the rear edge of the shelf will ride up the sloping surface of the pad 26 and gradually flex the spring arm i5 so that there will be no sudden shock or jal` tending to chip the rear edge, of the shelf. The same is true when they shelf is removed by pulling it forwardly from the shelf brackets and consequently chipping or breakage of the rear edge of a glass shelf is eliminated.

Extending between the lower portion of the wall-engaging arm and the front end portion of the shelf-engaging arm I8 is a diagonal bracing arm 24f which; a'sfsh'own, ispreferably in the form of a wire loop, one end of which'is welded or otherwise suitably. secured to the panel. l2 of the wall-engaging arm4 'Atitsupper end the loop 2liA is provided witha horizontally extending portion 25.. (Fig. 1.?)V which rests within Athe embossment 2| and is adaptedatolbe welded or otherwise suitably secured `therein, thus providing a strong and rigid shelf structure.

While shelf bracketsconstructed. as heretofore described are not limitedtoiusewith glass shelves butv may. be" employedz'for supporting'shelves formed ofA wood, molded. plastic materials or the like, certain features of the present invention are particularly. applicable. to Iglass shelves.` in `order to avoid; breakage "and: chipping thereof when assembling the shelf on the bracket. These fea-i tures of the invention-*reside-.inthe provision of a. nonrnetallicresilient shelfesupporting pad adjacent the rear end of the-.slielfesupporting arm, which pad may-be of-the.formshownin Fig. e.

The shelfsupporting: pad; as sh'own, comprises a. bodyA 2S; preferably; formedof; molded plastic material and provided'. with aslot 2]. extending substantially thronehouttthelenetn thereof to provide 'a Urshaped Dade. Theside edges ofthe U-shaped pad are cut;away, ,as: shown best in Fig. 4, to providefan unser-.ledge2.8;Qnaclisidegof the pad; and. lower; ledges 2.9 which extend throughout only a small portion of the length of the Dad. Liberanihersesendnof the pad member. 25 is .provided-.Wittig cri 1r-.groove Safor purposes mehr. herenefie ...,-1?ib@d. AS Shown best in Fig.` -5, `the heli-supporting arm i8 ofthe shelf bracketfis'rproyided 4adjacent its rear end with an elongate slot 3| disposed below theshelfengaging finger, |5L5 for receiving the insert or pad 25.. Y

In @merio-assemble. themed@ .insert into the slot 26; itis nees'sarypnlyte lower the rear end of the pad lnto-,theslotand.move it rearwardly until thegroove-3llfreceives theedge of the slot and thenV compressi'th'e vfree Eendsofvthe pad until the ledges `29;.afpproacjhgeacl,'i other sufficiently to permit lowering of thefront end ofl thev pad into the Slot- Uponrelease,.ofthe 4pressure the free ends of the"U-shapedlpadifiwillg spring apart so that the edges-of thewslot 3| `will be received beween theledges'ZS andi 29; as best shown in Fig. 6, thereby locking the'inse'rtfmember 25 in positiononthe shelfsupportin'fg-arm|8.v

As shown bestia-Figs. 4l', 41 andl9, Vthe front upper surface of' the :insert-member 25slopes forwardly so that.whenaglass-slfielf; such'fo'r examplel as the shelf 32fof Fig. 9-,is placedon the` j InFig. 9 the shelf 32 is shown as being only slightly greaterin width than the length of the .shelf-supporting' arms of the brackets i0, but it willv be understood. that since no front end hooks are provided shelves of considerably greater width may be supported; on the brackets I0, the front edges thereof overhanging the front ends of the brackets. The spring arms I5, in cooperation with the insert members or pads 2 6, firmly grip the Vrear portion ofthe shelf-1 32 so as to retain it against lon'gitudinall'or frontwise` displacement, while at the sameftinie permittingi ready removal of the shelf from the brackets for'cleaning or similar pu rposes;` andv it will beobserved' that when the-shelf is in position onthe bracketsjtgis supported at its rear end on the"` plastici insert members or pads 2- and;at-itsgforwardfedgeon the pads formedgby theembossjmentsfZgif.

InrFigs. l0 andfll'- Ihave shownportions ofa shelf-supporting brackietf forming 'ai furtherembodiment of the invention, in which plastic-,insert members or padsare*replaced-by'spitable spring fingers formed integrally witlltlieslieet'meta-l from which the'shelfl'itselffisformedi In. this embodiment the wall'-engafgfirigd arn-SSis again provided at its upperfedgewlthgaforwardlyexf tending shelf-engagingfingerBd and the shelf supporting arm 35YY which extends-forwardly-from the wall-'engaging armi`s-provid'ed'-with anintev grally formedfspringfinger whichl is-,of-'considerably Agreaterflengththan the shelf -vengaging finger` 3 d fand whichhas -an upwardly yslopifngporftion 3'I-lying beneaththelingerfand-terminate 7 ing inthe shelf-engagingn portion 38g Itfwillnbe apparent thatinthiseinbodi'mentrpof theY invention rearward. movement of afshelf memberon the arm lIn,A will causefthespringngerto more downwardly YasY I the rear edge ofthe-shelf comes into engagementl witlr 'the' slplr'llg portieri; 3'7" ofthe finger vso thattheshelf; when'linits-rearxnost; position, is firmly clampedbetweentheingeri andthe portion--of 'thejspringfngej' The front end of i-the-bracket-formfing -the einu 1 bodimentof-.theinventionzshown in'Fig-s. liland 11 is preferably:provided-#with a suitable' shelfsupporting pad. 'extendingslightlyj abovefth'e upper surface of the arm-f35-so\that=whenthe shelf gis in itsrflnal position-lt'will be-{supportediuponthe portion 32 of.; the4 spring finger-361 andon the shelf-supporting padi atthe frontI endE offthe bracket.

In the embodiment of the `invention shown' in Figs. 12an'd' 13; noshelfsupporting pads arepro' vided on lthe shelf-Supportingarmbut-instead the arm- 39is substantially flat-fthroughout--its-v length and isslottedg-asrfshown; iso-provide side bars lill ori-which the-shelf'frests. Extending-upfwardly from thereari end? off the.j shelfsupporting bars i da and/constituting a-'continuation or thewall-engagingV armf-of-the'l bracket is an upwardl-y andi Y forwardly Yextcndi'ngrspring farmi 41| which is `Vofsomewhatg-reaterlength than the spring arms 5 and 34, and. which is adapted; firmlyto press theres/r edge=por-tion0f 'the 'shelf into contact with the shelf-supporting arm formed by the bars so as firmly to hold the shelf against accidental displacement from the bracket.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I, therefore, contemplate by the appended claims to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A shelf bracket comprising a wall-engaging arm, a shelf-supporting arm extending forwardly from said wall-engaging arm to receive a shelf thereon, means extending upwardly from the surface of said shelf-supporting arm adjacent the front and rear ends thereof to form front and rear shelf-engaging portions, and resilient means overhanging said rear portion to clamp a portion of a shelf therebetween to retain the Shelf in position on said bracket.

2. A shelf bracket comprising a wall-engaging arm, a shelf-supporting arm extending forwardly from said wall-engaging arm to receive a shelf thereon, means extending upwardly from the surface of said shelf-supporting arm adjacent the front end thereof to form a first shelf-engaging portion, a member formed of resilient material secured to said shelf-supporting arm adjacent the rear end thereof to provide a seco-nd shelf-engaging portion, and a spring finger in juxtaposed spaced relation to said second shelf-engaging portion for clamping a shelf against said portion to retain said shelf in position on said bracket.

3. A shelf bracket comprising a wall-engaging arm, a shelf -supporting arm extending forwardly from said wall-engaging arm to receive a shelf thereon, said shelf-supporting arm having a slot therein adjacent the rear end thereof, a resilient insert member removably disposed in said slot to form a shelf engaging pad, and a spring finger extending over said pad in spaced relation thereto for clamping a shelf against said pad to retain f said shelf in position on said bracket.

4. A shelf bracket comprising e. wall-engaging arm, a shelf-supporting arm extending forwardly from said wall-engaging arm to receive a shelf thereon, said shelf-supporting arm havin-g a slot therein adjacent the rear end thereof, a resilient insert member removably disposed in said slot to form a shelf-engaging pad disposed at a level above said shelf-supporting arm, said pad tapering forwardly downwardly to said shelf-supporting arm, and a spring finger extending over said pad in spaced relation thereto for clamping a shelf against said pad to position said shelf on said bracket.

5. A shelf bracket comprising a wall-engaging arm, a shelf-supporting arm extending forwardly from said wall-engaging arm to receive e. shelf thereon, said shelf-supporting arm having a slot therein adjacent the rear end thereof, a nonmetallic insert member shaped to provide a substantially U-shaped shelf-supporting pad, the side edges of said pad each having a ledge for engaging the upper surface of said shelf-supporting arm when said pad is disposed in said slot and eac-h having a second ledge at the free end of said U spaced from said first ledge to receive the edges of said slot therebetween, said free ends being compressible toward each other 'to permit insertion of said pad into said slot and thereafter springing outwardly to lock said pad, and a spring finger extending forwardly from said wall-engaging arm for clamping the rear portion of a shelf against said pad to position said shelf 0n said bracket.

6. A shelf bracket comprising a wall-engaging arm, a shelf-supporting arm extending forwardly from said wall-engaging arm to receive a shelf thereon, means at the rear end of said shelf-supporting arm including a finger extending forwardly from said wall-engaging arm in spaced relation to said shelf-supporting arm and a spring finger extending upwardly from said shelf-supporting arm for frictionally clamping the rear edge of a shelf between said fingers upon insertion therebetween.

7. A shelf bracket comprising a wall-engaging arm, a shelf-supporting arm extending forwardly from said wall-engaging arm to receive a shelf thereon, a shelf-engaging finger extending forwardly from said wall-engaging arm in spaced relation to said shelf -supporting arm, and a. spring finger extending upwardly from said shelf-supporting arm with the free rear end thereof disposed beneath said shelf-engaging finger to clamp the rear portion of a shelf therebetween when said shelf is positioned on said shelf-supporting arm and forced rearwardly thereof.

8. A shelf bracket comprising a wall-engaging arm, a shelf-supporting arm extending forwardly from said wall-engaging arm to receive a shelf thereon in forwardly slidable relation, and resilient clamping means cooperating with said shelfsupporting arm for frictionally holding said shelf on said shelf-supporting arm against accidental dislodgment, said clamping means constituting the sole means for retaining said shelf on said shelf-supporting arm while permitting removal of said shelf by forward sliding movement thereof, said resilient clamping means comprising a spring finger rigidly securedv to one of said arms and having a part projecting forwardly and downwardly toward the upper surface of the shelf to overlie the rear portion of the shelf-engaging arm, said part terminating in an upwardly directed portion to provide a curved end for facilitating the insertion of said shelf on said shelfsupporting arm.

' ROY S. SANFORD.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 560,884 Anderson May 26, 1896 883,323 Macduff Mar. 31, 1908 2,271,784 Tritt Feb. 3, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 294,310 Great Britain July 26, 1928 

